Advice please: been sold a dodgy import by a VW dealer

[f1fan]

Hi, I'd be grateful for some advice from anyone who has been in or knows of a similar situation.

I bought by 58 plate GTi from a VW dealer at the beginning of September.  I was told it was an import but was UK spec and was from Germany, the first owner was in Kent and the car was registered in Nov 2008.

After a month or so I realised it wasn't UK spec as the air con system was standard not climatronic, the alarm has no ultrasonics and the leather seats aren't heated.

I phoned VW head office to gain some clarity on their used car guarentee, when speaking to them my car registration didn't show on the UK systems.  After supplying the VIN they told me the car was built in Feb 2008 and first registered in Denmark in Mar 2008. 

VW head office are opening a case and will be talking to the dealer.

What I'd like to know is what I should be expecting from VW and more importantly what I should be trying to get out of VW?

I suspect there are three outcomes
1. I'm told it's tough - think this is unlikely.
2. They offer fully refund and take the car away - don't really want to do this as I'll have no car and I need it.
3. They offer compensation.  In which case what should I expect financially for my car being non uk spec and it being older than they said when I bought it?

Thanks guys, really appreciate advice on this problem before VWhone me back on Monday.

[gazon69]

If you have been misled and information has been falsified then you have a case. Take it back.

[Eddie-NL]

had a similar case a couple of years ago

I fitted a gateway in a GTi and noticed it was an import, told the guy and he said it was a UK car.

Looked in the booklets and it was an import

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,28665.0.html

In the end the Dealer took the GTi back and gave him an R32 (which was newer, and cost more than his original car)

[chudds]

as far as compensation is concerned, does your insurance company know that your car is now technically an import and is your insurance valid?! as a stand point of crashing your car if it came down to it wold you still be insured? that could have been a huge loss to you finically... i think you need to play out all the technicalities to get the most out of them!

[ArildStavrum]

If it was me I would want to take the car back.
I imagine you paid decent money for it and there is bound to be another decent spec gti around for the around the same money.
It is a hassle though, but just think of the situation when you come to sell it on/trade it in.
It is outrageous the dealer has misled you in such a way.

[DMcG]

Depends what you paid for it? If you paid a lot less than an equivalent age and condition uk car then push for compensation and keep it knowing that it will be harder to sell and sell for less.

If knowing that the spec differs is a big thing for you then it sounds like you have been misled, give it back!

[f1fan]

For a bit more info.

The car was on for £13000, I paid £12500 for it.  I thought it was 3yrs 9 months old, 29k on the clock before I worked out it was an import because the reg didn't show on insurance databases. I paid that price believing it to be a normal UK car. 

When I confronted the dealer he admitted it was an import was no different to a UK car.  I checked with my insurance company and they were fine with it being an import and as it was made in the EU they said I didn't even need to bother telling them! (that was Admiral).  So after that I agreed to pick the car up a couple of days later thinking it was fine.

It was down to this forum that I realised the missing alarm sensors (has standard alarm but no ultrasonics, i.e. same as the base S model) and standard air con and lack of heaters in seats.

I'd quite like to keep my car, though I want some serious money back in return.  But how much?

[chrisr763]

Im not sure what VW will even offer you and I dont think anyone can guesstimate what there going to offer. I would just pust to an offer that you deem reasonable. Remember the price you paid and what it will be worth when you come to sell it, or were even to sell it now? 

[f1fan]

That's the tricky bit, I don't know how much it is worth as an import so I don't know how to calculate the difference :-(

[andrewparker]

It was down to this forum that I realised the missing alarm sensors (has standard alarm but no ultrasonics, i.e. same as the base S model) and standard air con and lack of heaters in seats.

Were heated seats standard with leather?

[chrisr763]

That's the tricky bit, I don't know how much it is worth as an import so I don't know how to calculate the difference :-(

To some people the fact that its an import wouldnt bother them, mainly down to not knowing the difference. I think perhaps weigh up what your car has in terms of extras. And what you could have bought for the same money. For example the heated seats ect ect.

[stealthwolf]

Were heated seats standard with leather?

Heated seats also came with the winter pack (headlamp washers, heated washer jets, larger washer tank, low washer fluid warning)

[f1fan]

Well from what I can work out the following is missing from standard UK spec:
1.  Interior sensors for the alarm
2.  Climatic Air Conditioning

The optional extras on the car are:
1. Cruise control
2. Parking sensors
3. Leather seats (but not heated and headrests are not embossed with GTi logo)

The car is 6 months older than I was told about.

So, how much is this car worth compared to a UK spec car?  Any suggestions on the difference in value?

Eddie-NL, do you have an idea of what it would cost to retrofit the air con system, interior alarm and heated seats, I know you are the king of retrofitting!

[Hurdy]

My advice if you want to keep the car is that yours is effectively an 08 plate being registered in Feb 2008, so look at Parkers and roughly work out the depreciation on there for the age related compensation. As for the specification, personally I'd be looking at getting the dealer to fit a tracker for free to make up for the poor alarm spec and as there isn't much you can do about the heated seats or climate I'd ask for the next two services to be done for free.

[smokeybubbles]

When I confronted the dealer he admitted it was an import was no different to a UK car.  I checked with my insurance company and they were fine with it being an import and as it was made in the EU they said I didn't even need to bother telling them! (that was Admiral).  So after that I agreed to pick the car up a couple of days later thinking it was fine.

If i am reading this right then you knew it was an import before you actually took delivery from the dealer?

If that is the case then i doubt you will get anything.  You took delivery of the car, were happy with the price you were paying, you knew that it was an import, you saw the car and the specification, so i don't understand what you have to be unhappy about? What does the V5C say with regards to registration date, etc?

If it bothered you then you could have rightfully backed out of the deal before taking delivery?

All my opinion obviously, but also when you approach a dealer you might want to have an idea of what you want to achieve.